From his first solo album in 1970, Runt, through to The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect in 1982, Todd Rundgren recorded for his manager Albert Grossman’s Bearsville Records. It was one of the hippest labels in the business, with acts like Paul Butterfield, Bobby Charles, The dB’s, Foghat, NRBQ, Sparks and Jesse Winchester on its roster as well as Rundgren. Now The Complete Bearsville Albums Collection – released February 26th on Rhino Records – collects the 11 albums that built him one of classic rock’s most devoted large cult followings.
The 13 disc package includes such prime Rundgren LPs as The Ballad of Todd Rundgren, Something/Anything? and A Wizard, a True Star and memorable songs like “We Gotta Get You A Woman,” “I Saw the Light,” “Hello It’s Me” and “Can We Still Be Friends.” In addition to 10 studio LPs the box also features his live album Back to the Bars from 1978.
Rundgren remains a busy artist today. Last year saw the release of his 25th album, Global, and a collaboration with Emil Nikolaisen and Hans-Peter Lindstrøm titled Runddans. This year he will first be touring from late April through May as “An Evening With Todd Rundgren” with a band that includes his longtime Utopia bassist Kasim Sulton and former Tubes drummer Prairie Prince (click here for dates and tickets). Then from June into July, he’s on the road as part of Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band alongside such other classic rock vets as Steve Lukather, Gregg Rollie and Gregg Bissonette. Later this year he will be an artist in residence at the University of Notre Dame. Rundgren will also again host his ever-changing fan summer camp from August 22nd to 26th at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT, this year dubbed Todd Rundgren’s TyRolean Getaway. As the von Trapps are the singing Austrian family that escaped from the Nazis, the theme is of course The Sound of Music.
